This hands-on classroom activity introduces students to the power of geospatial data and QGIS through real-world examples from European datasets. Participants learn how spatial information connects people, places, and processes — revealing patterns that often remain hidden in spreadsheets. Using environmental indicators such as municipal waste recycling rates or mobility flows from the Erasmus+ program, students visualize and analyze data to better understand how geography influences sustainability, education, and social development. The activity demonstrates that GIS is not just a tool for experts — it’s a language for seeing how our world works.
Each session begins with a guided setup of QGIS, an open-source geographic information system, and continues with data exploration and map creation. Students work with official Eurostat and NUTS datasets, learning how to load, style, and interpret thematic maps. Through tasks such as adding pie-chart diagrams to regions or comparing indicators across countries, they discover how maps can make complex ideas tangible and how spatial thinking supports better decision-making in every field — from urban planning and climate policy to education and technology.
By the end of the activity, learners not only create their own meaningful maps but also engage in critical discussions about equity, access, and sustainability. They reflect on why some regions perform differently than others and how data visualization can reveal both challenges and opportunities. The exercise encourages curiosity, collaboration, and informed global citizenship — helping students see geography not as memorization, but as a dynamic, data-driven way to understand the world around them.